Chapter 24 - Page 340 - Jim's Big Surprise

   Rhasha got to the jeep and managed to open the door. She jumped inside, but it was too late. The jeep was almost on top of the four people in its path.

   The family finally heard Jim yelling. They looked up and saw the jeep coming toward them, but it was too late for them to run.

   The loud, eerie sound had stopped, but now a new sound took its place-the humming sound. The sound rose, briefly pulsated, then faded away.

   Rhasha jammed on the brake, but it didn't matter. A blue bubble surrounded the jeep and lifted it above the family of four. By this time, all the picnicking people could see the bubble that was now carrying the jeep above the water of the pool. The bubble circled back and passed over Jim at an angle, fifty feet in the air. He could see Rhasha sitting in the front seat, crying, as the bubble passed over him. The bubble deposited the jeep at the top of the hill, where it had originally been parked, about a hundred feet from where Jim stood. The bubble gently set the jeep on the ground, but horizontal with the pool this time. Immediately, the blue bubble disappeared.

   The humming sound rose, throbbed, faded.

   Jim ran toward Rhasha as she set the hand brake and climbed shakily out of the jeep. When Jim arrived, Rhasha was leaning against the door, crying. Breathing hard, with sweat running down his face, Jim bent over and rested his hands above his knees, trying to catch his breath. Rhasha stopped crying to check on him. She put her arm around his back and rested her left hand on his arm. She bent over as if trying to help him up.